Sheriff Suma

Sheriff Suma

Personal information
Full name	Sheriff Suma
Date of birth	(1986-10-12) 12 October 1986
Place of birth	Freetown, Sierra Leone
Height
Position(s)	Left winger-left Back
Team information
Current team	Ravan Baku
Number	11
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2005	Kallon FC
2005–2006	Åtvidabergs FF	49	(7)
2007–2008	GAIS	14	(0)
2008	→ Haugesund (loan)	11	(1)
2009	Ermis Aradippou	14	(2)
2010	Kocaelispor	5	(1)
2010–2011	Jönköpings Södra	22	(3)
2011–2012	Ravan Baku	38	(1)
2013	FC Johansen
2014–2015	Syrianska
2015–	Ravan Baku	17	(1)
International career‡
2006–2013	Sierra Leone	30	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 December 2015 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 January 2015

Sheriff Suma (born 12 October 1986 in Freetown, Sierra Leone) nickname Awilo, is a Sierra Leonean international footballer who plays as a winger or Attacking-Midfielder for Syrianska and the Sierra Leone national football team. He was a member of Sierra Leone U-17 team at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland. Suma made his senior international debut for Sierra Leone on 3 September 2006 in a 2008 African Nations Cup qualifying match against Mali in Freetown.

Suma is one of the most popular Sierra Leonean footballers and he is known for frequently changing his unusual and colourful hairstyles. Suma is widely known across Sierra Leone by his nickname Awilo.

Biography

Sheriff Suma was born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone to Guinean parents from the town of Boffa in Western Guinea. Both of his parents are members of the Susu ethnic group.and he attended the Prince of Wales secondary school in Freetown. Sheriff Suma is famous in Sierra Leone, particularly among the youths. Suma is widely known across Sierra Leone by his nickname Awilo.

Football career

Suma's blistering pace and dribbling ability while in possession of the ball with his dangerous left-foot, often leave defenders marking shadows.

Like many African footballers, Suma grew up playing street football in his neighbourhood, in the Sierra Leonean capital Freetown. As he grew older, his dream was to play for the Leone Stars, the Sierra Leone national soccer team; and then move to one of Europe biggest clubs.

Suma fled his country's civil war and moved to The Gambia in 1997. Suma was widely considered the best Sierra Leonean youth footballer while in The Gambia. In 2001, the young Suma was discovered by Sierra Leonean football agent Chernor Musa Jalloh while playing in a local football league in Banjul, Gambia. Jalloh introduced Suma to Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leone's most successful footballer. Kallon asked him if he would like to play for Kallon F.C. in the Sierra Leone National Premier League. Suma returned to Sierra Leone for the first time in five years in 2002 and sign for top Sierra Leone National Premier League club FC Kallon, which is owned by Mohamed Kallon himself. In his first season in the Sierra Leonean Premier League, Suma was the second top goal-scorer.

After playing in the qualifying rounds, Suma was omitted from the final squad for the 2003 African U-17 Championship in Swaziland, something he describes as the worst moment of his life. In the championship, Sierra Leone placed second, behind Cameroon, thereby qualifying for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland.

Fortunately for Suma, he was called back to the squad for the U-17 world championship in Finland. While the team failed to advance past the group stage of the tournament, the coach commended Suma for his energy and flair with the ball. Following this event, 12 of the 23 players failed to return to Sierra Leone and some later applied for political asylum. Among those who did return home was Suma.

Shortly After the U-17 world championship, talent scout Chernor Musa Jalloh helped Suma moved to the Swedish team Åtvidaberg on a two-year contract from Kallon F.C.. In December 2006, Suma was traded to GAIS, one of Sweden's oldest teams.

Suma was loaned to FK Haugesund in the summer of 2008 for the rest of the season.

In December 2012 Suma was released from his contract with Ravan Baku.

In June 2014 Suma joined Syrianska with fellow Sierra Leone International Samuel Barlay, signing a new one-year contract with Syrianska in December 2014.

In July 2015, Suma's proposed move to Kvik Halden FK fell through, before later in the same month he re-signed for Azerbaijan Premier League side Ravan Baku FK.

Career statistics

As of 12 November 2013

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sweden			League		Svenska Cupen		Europe		Total
2005	Åtvidabergs	Superettan	23	4			-		23	4
2006			26	3			-		26	3
2007	GAIS	Allsvenskan	9	0			-		9	0
2008			5	0			-		5	0
Norway			League		Norwegian Cup		Europe		Total
2008	Haugesund (loan)	Adeccoligaen	11	1			-		11	1
Cyprus			League		Cypriot Cup		Europe		Total
2009–10	Ermis Aradippou	Marfin Laiki League	14	2	0	0	-		14	2
Turkey			League		Turkish Cup		Europe		Total
2009–10	Kocaelispor	PTT 1. Lig	5	1	0	0	-		5	1
Sweden			League		Svenska Cupen		Europe		Total
2010	Jönköpings Södra	Superettan	10	1			-		10	1
2011			11	1	2	0	-		13	1
Azerbaijan			League		Azerbaijan Cup		Europe		Total
2011–12	Ravan Baku	Azerbaijan Premier League	28	1	1	0	-		29	1
2012–13			10	0	1	0	-		11	0
Total	Sweden		84	9	2	0	0	0	86	9
	Norway		11	1	0	0	0	0	11	1
	Cyprus		14	2	0	0	0	0	14	2
	Turkey		5	1	0	0	0	0	5	1
	Azerbaijan		38	1	2	0	0	0	40	1
Career total			152	14	4	0	0	0	156	14

External links

• Profile at goal.com
• Sheriff Suma at National-Football-Teams.com